THE CHURCH IS THE EXPOUNDER OF THE SCRIPTURES.
PROPOSITION IX.
As the Church can assuredly tell us, what particular book is the word of God; so can she, with the like assurance, tell us the true sense and meaning of it, in controverted points of faith: the same Spirit, which directed the writing of the Scriptures, directing the Church to understand them, and to teach all mysteries and duties as are necessary to salvation.
SCRIPTURE.
Acts, xv. 1. “ And some coming down from Judea, (to Antioch) taught the brethren: That except you be circumcised after the manner of Moses, you cannot be saved."-St. Luke then proceeds to relate, that the Apostles and ancients came together to consider of this matter; and that when there had been much disputing, Peter and James delivered their opinions; and Barnabas and Paul told what great signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.Ibid. 22.-" Then it pleased the Apostles and Ancients with the whole Church, to choose men of their own company, and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. -Ibid. 23, 28, 29.“ Writing by their hands-It hath seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to Us, to lay no farther burden upon you than these necessary things-that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication.”—Ibid. 41.-" And he (Paul) went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the Churches; commanding them to keep the precepts of the Apostles and the Ancients.”
See also the texts quoted under the head, “The Church cannot fail,” p. 54.
